Sealing-in apparatus



Jgne.20, 1950 H. w. -JAcoBsvl-:N

" sAL'ING-IN APPARATUS 2 Sheets-het 1 Filed June 22, 1944 il .w 22\ ---52-2.

Ihvenor June 20, 1950 H. w.- ..|AcoBsl-:N 2,512,275

' l -sEAL1NGIN APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1944 I 2 sheets-sheet A'4 His Attorney Patented June 20, 1950 HenryW. Jacobsen, Cleveland rHeights,.10fl1io;1as

signoruto -GeneralnElectric Companyfa, corporation of New York Application June 122; 1944, seriaiivmtfirgsiel/z -14- Claims.

My invention relates in "general to a-:sealing of the mount stem and then heat thefcontiguous portions of kthe envelope and` flare untill they become fused and sealed together. One ofithe diiculties encountered in making such 4a seal is the sagging of the softened outer portions'of the glass flare immediately inwardof thes'eal. Such sagging of the flare "produces "a sa'gged mr drooped seal which is very weakiand'readily cracks 'when subjected to the compressive force appliedthereto (due to 'temperature changes) vby thebase which is subsequentlycemented'.to the end of the envelope around the seal. To'there'- fore insure the production of a/good seal sui- `iiciently strong to withstand the compressive force exerted thereon by thebase, it is desirable to eliminate sagging of thefare inwardly of the Aseal and produce a seal in .which the glass ofthe ilare extends diagonally upward in ya straight line right from the seal, i. e. in true conical-shape,

One object of my invention is to provide an improved sealing apparatus for sealing glass stems rto the ends of envelopes for fluorescent lamps and similar electrical devices.

Another object'of my inventionisto provide apparatus for producing a mechanically strong and'gastight seal between a glass flare and an end of a glass tube.

Still another object of my invention is'to provide apparatus,l for sealing a glass flare to an end of a glass tube to produce a -seal wherein the glass of the are extends in a straight line from theseal in true conical shape.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description of a species thereof and from the accompanying draw*- ing in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic planviewofsealing apparatus comprising my invention; Fig..2'ris 'a` verticalsection through one oflthe headsoffthe apparatus comprising my inventionwith the head Spindle .Shown in VY2L position'rotatedQO-.fdegreesss 'theenvelcpefwabemgrst maden. inwthanead -fr'om its "norma-l loading -;positionf-at fstationf-.-A1; Figirr `3 tisha? diagrammatic perspective viewfoff the rspindleoperating #cam 'tracks v-of `thev apparatus comprising my invention; Figs: r4 fand" 5*..are'f'en1- Ia'rged Averticalisections *through the headspindle showing theipositionsf-offtheivanious spindle parts whenffthe .head-'is located at stations` A fand-FE, respectively; Fig@ wisf"v a vertical section vsimilar 'to '.F'igs;` 4 and 5'4 iontwshowingthe positions ofthe various spindle/parts` when fthe :head iis located riiistioeyonl 'station ,Jfatrthe:'highestpoint"of the seafl-upsetting cam locatedirnmediately beyond said stat-ion; andfFig: l7;:is ranenlarged'iragmenrtary section vofy one endof-aiiluorescent flamp "which has been @sealed "by fthe apparatus comprisingzrny invention.

f f Referring to the 'drawing;-the vinvention is r-there showneasffappliedftoffa iiuorescent larnpfsealing machine OfthegaS-retype-,disclosed andlaim'ed intherlpreviously mentionedU.' S. PatentnfNm 2,434,664 of ,'J. yfMal'lcy. The saidfmachine come yprises,.fingeneral, -a turret or *carrier l' provided fwithfa,v plurality (16).fof 'hea"ds"2 located-at uniformly` spaced 'intervals around "the I-periphenywof the turret. The turret l is supportedona'vertical.

Vshaft 3-'journalled'in.the/inaclriine bed-4f-arrd is intenmittently rotated ina "counterclockwise .direction to l successively index or advance the .heads -2=to aplurality-of workrstations Ata-Q vcor responding in number to the f number f of heads. The/indexing means lfor'thegturret i may be-of any y welllznown `type, -as `that'illi-.istrated in IU; S. Pa-tent rNo. ;1,742,153,-Stileset :ala and -compris- 'ing-'a rotating dr-uniftyype carni-mounted 4oir-a horizontal kdrive^sl 1ait-l and engaging -w-ithffa rpiuralitycf rollers #depending =from "a disc-8 fastenedato the turret supportfshaft. v

,'I'h'e` heads 2- are-each .arranged tosupiportaconventional fluorescentlan-1p l`mount` ,9-V and glass envelope l 0Min. proper: *sealing `relation to one anotherw-i-th-,the tubularirenvelope disposed ver- Iticallyandits.loWer-.endresting on the flare of the .mount .stem Phe-mount 9 y illustrated 1 in n.the drawing is f ci :the =type shown in U. S.` v; Patent 2,312,245,- J. llaws,and.comprises :aigl-ass stern I nl.. havingf La `ilarepcrtion I 2.,.. andv apair .ci .leadv in 4wires I3. .sealedthrough .the f stern-f and y.foon-- `nected. yat .their` .inner ends yto a filamentary, yciuil electrode Mcoated with-,a suitable electron'emissive materiaL-.such asl-any alkaline earth oxide,-like .barium oxide-for instance.

The f general operation of i .the machine is .simil-ar toth-atn ldescribeclinMthefprev-iously. mem. tioned U. S. Patent No. 2,434,664, the mount Stand 2 at the loading stations A and B after which the turret indexes the head through idle station C and thence through a series of successive heating station D to O inclusive where the stem flare I2 and the lower end of the envelope l0 are heated by gas iires at said stations to thereby fuse and seal the glass parts together. After it has passed through a cooling station P, the sealed envelope and mount are then removed from the head 2 at the unloading station Q.

Each of the heads 2 comprises a vertical spindle l5 rotatably mounted in roller bearings- |6 supported in a housing on thevturret l. The spindle |5 according to the invention comprises outer and inner sleeves I8 and '|9, respectively, which extend down through another sleeve 20 journalled in the roller bearings |6. The said sleeve 20 supports a suitable bulb holder 2|, for holding the tubular lamp envelope I in a vertical position in alignment with, and resting on the iiare I2 of the lamp mount 9. The holder 2| is fastened to a pair of vertical side rods or posts 22 located on opposite sides of the spindle axis and'extending upward from, and secured to.

ya Iiange 23 integral with the spindle sleeve 29.

The holder 2|, which may be of the type described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 541,5991/2 filed of even date herewith, comprises spring-pressed jaws 2|' and 2|" vwhich grip the tubular lamp envelope I0 very tightly so as to prevent vertical sliding of the envelope in the lholder in the event a lifting force is applied to the envelope, even though the lifting force be of considerable magnitude.

To insure the heating and sealing together oi the glass parts uniformly around theirl periphery,

'the spindles l5 are continuously rotated during the interval when they are positioned at each ofthe heating stations D to O inclusive. For this purpose, each of the spindles is provided with a pulley 24 which is secured to the lower end of the Yspindle sleeve 20 and is 'continuously engaged 'by a moving belt 25 from'the time just before it reaches station D until just after it indexes awayr from station O.

' -'l'o permit unloading and loading of the heads 2;'the spindles i5 are locked in a definite rotative position at station P and are thereafter continuously maintained in such rotative locked position until just after the heads index away from station C. For this' purpose, each spindle pulley 24 is provided with a depending roller 26 which rrides in an arcuate groove or channel 2l provided by a guide track 28 supported by brackets 29 mounted on the table portion 30 of the machine 'be'd'4. Upon arriving at station P, each spindle l is rotated to and is held in proper rotative position for subsequent entry ofthe roller 26 into the guide channel 21 by'means of a rotating fric- 'tion wheel 3| which frictionally engages with and Yrotates a drum 32 on the pulley 24 until the roller '26 strikes against the end of va pivotal stop or latch33V located at the front end of theguide 'nel`21 formed by the guide track 28 thus continuously locking the spindle against rotation until the roller 26 clears the rear end of the guide track 23 at a point intermediate stations LC and D, the spindle then being free to rotate once again.

The "upper end of the outer spindle sleeve I8 is provided with an outwardly extending flange preferably in the form of a separate collar 36 suitably secured to the said sleeve, as by screws 3l. The collar 36 normally supports the lamp mount 9 from the time it is iirst loaded into the head 2 at the loading stations A and B until just after he head indexes away from the first heating station D. During this period, the collar 36 is constantly' maintained at a predetermined mount-positioning elevation by means of an arcuate cam track 38 which underlies and engages a shoe 39 on the lower end of the outer sleeve |8.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the collar-positioning cam track 38 is supported on the table portion 30 of the machine bed 4 and it extends from a point intermediate stations P and Q through stations A, B, C and around to a point intermediate stations D and E. The opposite ends of the collar-positioning tra-ck 38 are tapered to provide an ascending upper surface or lift 4!! at the front end of the track and a descending upper surface or drop 4`| at the rear end of the track. The forward taper or lift 4? terminates at a point just before the first loading station A while the rear taper or drop 4| begins at apoint just beyond station D. Thus, an intermediate uniformly-elevated track po-rtion 42 is provided extending from a point just before station A and continuing around Ato a point just beyond station D. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the cam track 38 is offset a slight amount to one side (preferably outwardly) of the spindle axis so as not to interfere with that portion of the inner spindle sleeve I9 which projects down beyond the lofwer surface of the shoe 39 on the outer sleeve |8.

The outer spindle sleeve I8, when not supported in its elevated mount-loading position (Fig. 4) by the cam or shoe track 38, is supported in a slightly lowered or sealing position (Fig. 5) by the-engagement of a stop shoulder 43 on the said sleeve |8 with the upper end 44 of the sleeve 2|). In the particular case illustrated, this lowered or sealing position of the outer sleeve I8 is approximately lower than the mount loading position thereof.

Disposed within the upper end of each spindle l5 is a mount support pin 45 having a head portion 46 overlying and resting on the collar 36 when the latter is in its raised loading position at the loading stations A and B. The upper surface 4l of the mount pin head 4h is of frustoconical shape conforming to but slightly smaller than the conical flare portion |2 of the mount stem so as to provide a slight clearance for permitting a limited amount of lateral adjustment of the lamp mount 9 on the collar 3E. The pin 45 extends down into the inner spindle sleeve i9 and has a loose t therein to allow a limited amount (1&4 inch or so) of lateral shifting of the pin in the sleeve. As shown in Fig. 4, the amount pin 45 is provided with a central bore 48 for the accommodation therein of the lead-in wires |3 and the exhaust tube 49 of the lamp mount 9.

Disposed within the inner sleeve I immediately beneath the mount pin 45 and reciprocable in said sleeve is a push pin or piston M also having a central bore for the accommodation therein of the mount exhaust tube 4G. The said push pin 50 is constantly urged upwardly by a soft-acting compression coil spring 5| interposed between a shoulder 52 on the push pin and a shoulder or seat 53'formed in the inner wall of f y thfsleve I9. The `'upward movement offthe pin 50 by .the force of Vthe ,spring 5I is Llimitdbya stop. pin orscew54 "fastened to the innrsieeve' 19 and projecting into .an annular gijoove`55 in the cylindrical wall of the push'pin. The head orlouter end portion 5Boif the stop pin @tis reeeiveu within a yerneauy eiongated slot 5`I1'n the outer sleeve I8 to thereby rotatively look 'the inner and outer sleeves I8 and I9 to gether. .The width of the .annulafgroove 55, i.; e., .the distacrlce between the upper and lower 'stopshoulders 58 .and `5.9 respectively, is made slightly greaterthan thediameter of the stop pin154 sel as to permit a very limitedk amountof reciprocating `movi-:ment o'f the push pin 50re1a tiveto the/ inner sleeve I9. 'Thus, in the particular-ease illustrated,` the .annular groove 55 is iliade` approximately TH; inch widerv than the pin si to therebyauow approximately e@ inch movenelt of the push .pin 5i) relative to the inner sleeve I9.

AsshownV in' Fig. 4 illustrating the spindle parte in their relative positions at the loading stations A and' B, the inner sleeve I9 .is normally supported within the outer sleeve I8 by the engagement of a stop shoulder B8 on the inner sleeve with a co-operatinlg annular ledge or seat BI within the outer sleeve. When the inner `sleeve I9 is in such position within the outer sleeve I8 with the stop shoulders 68 and SI in engagement, the upper vend 62 of the inner sleeve is spaced a slight distance' for instance inch or so, below the uppersurface t3 of the vcollar 36 at the upper end of the outer sleeve. Also, in such position of the inner sleeve I9 Within the outer sleeve I8, the upper end-*E4 of the spring-lifted push pin 50 is spaced a very slight distance (in the particular case illustrat'edabout 51g inch) from the lofwer end of the mount pin A so that the latter is free vto Yrest on the Icollar 35.

After a mount 9 and envelope IIIr have been vvp'roperlyloaded into a head 2 at the 'loading stations A and B'with the flare I2 resting on the up- 'per surface 63 of the spindle' collar" 36 andthe lower end of the envelope resting'on the flare I2, the turret I 'then indexes the head 2 iirst to idle station C and thence tothe lilrst heating station D where the flare I2 and the lower end portion of the envelope IIJ are preheated by soft-flame type gas Yfires (not shown) similar to those res V66 at the next station E. Just as the head arrives at "station D, the pulley 24 at the lower end of` the :spindle I5 engages the continuously moving belt 25 which then rotates the spindle. tional movement of the sleeve on which the `pulley Yis mounted is transmitted` ton the outer spindle sleeve I8 through a locking key 61 with which the outer spindle sleeve I8 is provided, the

lsaid key 61 fitting into a keyw'ay 68 in 'the'i'nner 4wall of the sleeve 28. VThe rotatonalmovement .ofthe outer sleeve I8 is transmitted, in turn, to

T'I vwhich is supported on thetable 38* and A'extends from a point approximately midway between stations C and D to a point just beforesta- 'tion :0. VThe cam track 'I'I liftsthe inner spindle v.sleeve .I9 to a predetermined sealing elevation,

'anthereaftrniaintainstneinner'sieeveiatfsai The rota- 2;'5 rante 6 elevation from va 4'time j ust bef ore4 the Aspindle ar-'l rives at station Duntil justbefforeit reaches-station'O -when it dr'ops to its; normal -lowered v`position once again. ,In -the particular case illus: trated,.the lcam track'TI liftsthe inner sleeve'IQ aJclistance 'of approximately 3% inch to its elevated sealingposition. y

"Asth'e innersleeve I9 is thusraised by the cam t`1fa'ck"II"`to` its sealing position, the push pin 50 moves bodily upward with the inner sleeverst into engagement with the vmount pin 45. 'This e'r'igagen'ientv occurs after the first alf inch of vup-l ward movement of the inner sleeve I9 and push 59ajt, which time the upper end 64 of the push pinstrikes against the lower end `555 of the mount pin "e 5. Thereafter; the continuedupward movement ofthe innersleeve 'I9 and push -pin 5I)v in unison causes the latter to lift the mount pin 45 unt-il' the head portion M3 thereof engagesthe fl'ar'e -I2 ofthe lamp mount 9. When this occurs, further upwardmovement of the mounty pin 45 `and the push' pin 5t is 'thereafter arrested'iby reason of the tight gripfwhich'thejaws 2I",' 21"" of the' holder'zl exert on the lamp `envelope "I0, such gripheing` suiciently rm to hol-d the en? velop'e from sliding upwardlyin the holder'under the ini'luence'yof the lifting force applied t'ofthe envelopefbythe' oil spring 5I through push pin 50,"mo`un`t pin-i45, and lflare I2. In the particular 'case illustrated,Y the' engagement of the'head 46 of .the mountpin with the are I2 `occurs Aafter themountpinhas been lifted roif thecollar 36 a distance jof from .0101to .020 inch (usually around 1/'64 each); depending ton'the variation in the 'size ofthe" flare. `:When-the mount pin head 46 thus engages the flare 12; the =inners1eeve I9 together withpush-pin 5!) have-moved upwardly av total distance ofappro'ximately 3/64 inch, equal tothe kinch"'vertical 4c'iearanrce between the-push pin 44arid 'the'm'ouritpin `@15"15liis" fthe '1/64 'inch verticalv clearance between the mount pin head 46 "and the Vilare I2. 'llhereafter, the remaining portion "K3/trillen) 0f` the total upward mvement 'fe' inch)` of the inner sleeve vI 9 is taken up by the "coil 'spring'SI which is compressed between 'the then `stationary push pin 50 and the seat53 on the upwardly continuing inner sleeve I9. The

'resulting upward'displacement of the inner sleeve filare 'I2' serves to' press it into rrn engagement iwith the lower'end of the lampenvelope Il) and 'holdit up at itsoriginalfloading height as determined by the-collar 36-at the loading stations A Following the preheating of the glassparts ait 4station D; the turret I indexes the head 2 to the seo-ond heating "station where additilmi'tlv soft- .'flame typegasil'res '56 `further preheat. the' flare -I2andthe, lower end o'fthe envelope I0.

During'th'e'indexmovement of the vhead2 from y"sta-tions Dito Ithe tapered rear end` 4I of the shoe track'allowsthe outer-sleeve I8 to Ydrop until thestopA shoulder =43 'on the said sleeve I8 abuts against and rests -on theseatf 44 -at'the up- Der endoff the spindlesleeve 2B. AThis downward jirrovement ,o'f fthe outer sleeve to its'loweredor `sealing-positioneauses the collar- 36 `at it-suppery end to 'l dropl awayfrom the `4`nare AHand .so provide-aspekte orfpassagewayethroughiwhichhthe essere gas fires .can .enter and heat the flare atpoints inwardly of its periphery.- i

.From statien E, the head 2 is thereafter successively indexed through the several sealing stations F to N inclusive where the exposed rim of the flare I2 and the immediately adjacent lower end portions of the envelope I are progressively heated, by very sharp and hard gas res 12 located at each of said stations, to thereby fuse and seal the said parts together. As the ,glass of the envelope IG and nare I2 is progressively softenedunder the heating effect of thegas sealing firesl, theupwardly spring-urged mount pin 45 slowly raises the stem II until the lower. stop shoulder 59 on the push pin 5U engages the stop pin 54. This lifting of the stem II by the mount pin 4-5tends to counteract any sagging tendency of the softened outer rim portions of the flare immediately inward of the envelope wall, and so facilitates the formation of a strong, sag-free seal between the stern and the envelope.

A t the beginning of the index movement of the head 2 away from station J, the shoe 39 on the lower end of the outer spindle sleeve I8 rides up the first of four upsetting or butt-up cam tracks 13, 14, and 16 (Fig. 3) mounted on the machine table immediately outward of the cam track 1l. The rst upsetting cam 13 momentarily lifts the outer sleeve I8 and its collar 36 to a position slightly above (for instance .005 to .010 inch above) its original loading position to thereby straighten out the flare by forcing thesagging r-irn portion thereof back up to its original position, more or less, with respect to the rigid inner portions of the nare. The second upsetting cam b 14,Y following station K, momentarily raises the upsetting collar 36 to a seal-working position an appreciable height (around .075 inch or so) above its original loading position. -This relatively large upsetting movement of the collar 36 presses and works the plastic rim portion of the nare I2 into intimate contact withthe edge or rimof the envelope I0, thus positively uniting the said parts together for the first time and, in addition,- producing a small annular ridge 11 about the' end of the lamp envelope much the same as shown in Fig. '7. The third and fourth upsetting cams 15 and 16 likewise lift the collar 36 a substantial amount (preferably the same as produced by-the .cam 14) to thereby. maintain the plastic glass at the seal up in place at its sealing level and so prevent the formation of a sagged and therefore weak seal and also preventthe plastic glass from stretching sufciently to separate and thus form openings in the seal.

From the last sealing-fire station N, the head 2v indexed to station O where the iinished seal is annealed by soft-flame type vgas iires .(not shown) located at said stations. During the index movement o the head from stations N to O, the lower end 69 of the inner spindle sleeve i9 lrides'off the rear end of the cam track 1I, thus .allowing the said sleeve I9 to drop until the stop -shoulder 60 thereon engages and rests on the seat iiI within the outer sleeve IB. This lowering lof @the inner sleeve I9 to its original loading position causes the mount pin to drop away from the Aflare portion I2 of the stem Ii and return to its :original position resting on the collar 36. The lowering of-the mount pin to its original position thus removes the support for the stem which support, however, is no longer necessary inasmuch as the glass at the seal has by that time become '.suicientlyl rigid to support the stem by itself.` f'f After passing through an idle air-cooling station P, the head 2 is indexed to the unloading station Q where an operator removes the Asealed envelope and mount from the head. During the ensuing index ofthe head 2 backto the rst loading station A, the tapered front end 40 of the shoe track 38 re-engages the shoe 39 on the outer spindle sleeve I8 to raise the mount positioning collar 36 once again to its original loading position preparatory to the placement of another` mount 9 thereon.

As shown in Fig. 7, the finished seal produced by the apparatus kcomprising my invention is characterized by the fact that the nare lI2 extends diagonally upward in a substantially straight line right from its rim, while the inner corner between the flare I2 and the wall of the envelope IB is slightly rounded as lindicated at 18. The absence of sag in the flare l2 at the seal, together with the absence-of a sharp inner corner between the are and the envelope, thus results in the formation of a mechanically strong seal capable of withstanding the compressive stresses normally applied thereto by the base which is subsequently attached to the end of the lamp envelope around the seal. K

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. Aspindle for lamp sealing apparatus comprising inner and outer sleeves slidable relative to one another, a pin slidably mounted within an end of said inner sleeve for supporting a lamp mount, said pin having a head portion normally resting against the end o1' said outer sleeve, and spring means within said inner sleeve normally f out of but movable into pressure engagement with said pin.

2. A spindle for lamp sealing apparatus comprising vertically disposed inner and outer sleeves slidable relative to one another, a pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said inner sleeve for supporting a lamp mount, said pin having a head portion normally resting against the upper end of said outer sleeve, and a compression coil spring within and carried by said inner sleeve and being normally out of pressure supporting relation with said pin, said inner sleeve being movable upwardly relative to said pin to thereby lift the spring into pressure supporting relation with said pin.

3. A spindle for lamp sealing apparatus cornprising vertically disposed innerand outer sleeves slidable relative to one another, a -pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said inner sleeve-for supporting a lamp mount, saidpin having .ahead portion .normally resting against the .upper end of said outer sleeve, a compression coil spring within and carried by said'in- Aner sleeve and being normally out of pressure supporting relation with said pin, said inner sleeve being movable upwardly relative to said pin to thereby lift the spring into pressure supporting relation with said pin, and stop means on said inner sleeve .between which said spring is initially compressed.

4. Lamp sealing apparatus comprising a carrier having a pluralityy of heads supported thereon, means forl intermittently indexing said carrierto successively advance said heads through a plurality of work stations, each of said heads comprising a-holder for tightly gripping and supporting a lamp bulb with an open end down and a spindlelfor supporting a lamp mount upright in sealingposition with the rim of its glass flare abutting against the, said open end of the bulb, saidA spindle comprising a vertically disposed sleeve-i, a mount support pin slidably mounted Within the upper end of -said sleeve and-'movable lupwardly thereof 'above the engagement position 'oi'` the pin with the said positioned mount,V and spring means compressible between said sleeve fand' pin to urge said `pin upwardly,` burners located at certain of saidstati'ons for directing'gas fires; against the contiguous rim portions Vof the ,bulb andflare to fuse said portions together, and

a cam track at 'least cti-extensive with the travel lofY the heads y,through and betweenrthe said certain stations and engaging Withthe said sleeve to continuously compress saidjspring Ymeans .againstsaid pin andi resilientlypress the ,latter upwardly against the .said positioned mount; f ;".Lamp sealing apparatus Acomprising a carrierhaving a .plurality of heads supported there- `on, means for intermittently indexing .said"carrier to successively advance saidheadsthrough a plurality of workv stations, each of said heads .comprising a. holder. forv tightly grippingY and supporting a lamp bulb with an open end `down ,and a spindlefor supporting ka lamp, mount. up-

sitioned mount,. and` spring. means compressible between said sleeve and pin to urge said pin upwardly, burners locatedat .certain of saidstations .for directing gas -res against the. contiguousrim portions of .the bulb and Lflare to. fuse sai-d .portions together, anda cam track. at least vco-.extensive vwith .the travel` of. the headsthrough andabetvveenthe said certain stations .and en-` gagingwith the said sleeveto lift the mount support pin into engagement with the mount and continuouslycompress said spring means against said pin-,so as to resiliently press the` latter upwardly against the saidpositioned mount,

6:-I Lamp sealing apparatus comprising a carrier having a plurality of heads supported thereon, means for intermittently indexing said car- 4rier.toA successively advancesaid heads through a plurality of work stations,`each of said. heads comprising a holder for tightly gripping and supporting a lamp bulb with an open end down and a spindle for supporting a lamp mo-unt up- 'rightwithi-zthe rim of its glasssliarei abutting against the; said open end. ofthe bulb', said 'Spindle comprising vertically disposed inner and outerfA sleeves slidable relative tov one anotherisa-id" outer sleeve being adapted: to support the mount at the rim offthe glass flarefthereof, a mount support pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said vinner sleeve and having a head portion normally resting on the upper end of said outer sleeve in a position below and out of engagement With the mount, and spring means compressilble Abetween said inner sleeve and pin to urge said pin upwardly, burners located at certain of said stations for directing gas lires against the contiguous rim portions of the .bulb and flare to fuse said portions together, a cam track engaging With the said inner sleeve to lift the mount support pin off the outer sleeve into engagement with the mount and to compress said spring means against said pin so as to resiliently press the latter against the 16 outer sleeve to momentarily lift and press it against the rim of thev glass -fiare of the mount.

7. Lamp sealing'v apparatus comprising a carrier having a plurality of heads supported thereon, means forintermittently indexing said carrier to successively advance said heads through a plurality of'work stations, each oi said heads comprising .aI holder for tightly gripping and supinnersleeve andhavi'ng'a head portion normally restingon the upper endfofsaid outer'sle'eve in a position below and'outo'f engagement `with the Amount," and spring-means 'compressible between said inner sleeve and fpinl to urge said pin upwardly; burners located at certain or said stations for directing: gas firesagainst the contiguous rim portions of y'the bulbv and iiare'to fuse Vsaid portions together; a cam track' engaging with" the outer sleeve to' support itin an lelevated mountsupporting position,'another carri` track overlapping the iirst-named" cam track and engaging with the inner sleeve to lift the mount support pin oif the outer sleeve into engagement with the K mount and tov compressjsaid springmeans against said pin so as to resiliently'press'the latter against the mount, and' cammeans'co-operating with the outer sleeve to momentarily lift and press it 4against the rim ofthe glass nare of the mount.

8;' A spindle" for lamp sealing-in apparatus comprising a sleeve, support means' on said spindle for initially supporting .a lamp mount by the rim of 'its glass flare in a normal sealing position at one end of said sleeve, .said sleeve and said supportmeans being relatively movable longitudinally of the sleevepa mount support pin in .said end of 'said sleeveand slidable therein relative to said support'means, said pin having a are-enga'geable head4 portion Vnormally spaced from the areof. 'theinount positioned on said supportmean's, andspring means within said sleeve and movable thereby, into pressure vsupporting relation withI said pin tov resiliently urge :fusing Itogether: the vrims' of said 'flare and' ybulb neck, saidspindl'e comprising a sleeve, a mount pin slidably mounted in the upper end of said sleeve and having a head of smaller diameter than the rim of the iiare of said mount whereby to engage the interior of the said iiare, and spring means movable Within said sleeve from a position normally out of to a position in -pressure-supporting relation with said pin to urge the pin upwardly against the mount continuously during the sealing oper-ation.

10. In a machine for sealing a flared lamp mount to a bulb neck of smaller diameter than the nare of the mount, a holder for supporting the bulb in neck down position, a vertical spindle mount, and cam means co-o-perating With the 7s located below and in alignment with said holder andere for supporting the mount upright with its flare abutting against thebulb neck, `and means for heating and fusing together the rims of said flare and bulb neck, said spindle comprising a sleeve, a mount pin slidably mounted in the upper end of said sleeve and having a head of smaller diameter than the rim of the flare of said mount whereby to engage the interior of the said flare, spring means movable within said sleeve from a position normally out of to a position in pressuresupporting relation with said pin to urge the pin upwardly -against the mount continuously during the sealing operation, and means independent of said pin arranged to be moved upwardly into engagement with and compress the fused rims of Vmeans Within said inner sleeve and movable into pressure supporting relation with said pin to urge the pin outwardly of said inner sleeve, cam means coasting with said outer sleeve to move the seating surface thereon into abutting engagement with the head of said pin and move said pin out of pressure supported relation with said spring means, and other cam means for moving said spring means into pressure supporting relation with said pin to thereby move the head of said pin off the said seating surface and resiliently urge it against the lamp mount positioned on the said seating surface.

12. A sealing head for lamp sealing apparatus comprising, in combination, a holder for tightly gripping and supporting a lamp bulb with an open end down, a spindle comprising inner and outer sleeves below and vertically aligned with said holder and slidable relative to one another, said outer sleeve being provided at its upper end with an annular seating surface for supporting a lamp mount upright by the rim of its glass nare, a

mount support pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said inner sleeve and having a head portion partially overlying and engageable with vthe said seating surface, said head portion being of smaller diameter than the flare of the lamp mount and engageableA with the interior of the flare of a mount on saidseating surface but being spaced downwardly therefrom when the said head portion is seated on said seating surface, and spring means compressible between said inner sleeve and pin to urge said pin upwardly, means for normally holding said outer sleeve in a position to hold a mount thereon with its glass nare abutting against the end of the said bulb and t0 engage the seating surface on said outer sleeve with the head portion of said pin to thereby hold the pin up out of pressure supported relation with the said spring means, and cam means for moving said inner sleeve upwardly relative to said outer sleeve to move the said spring means into pressure supporting relation with said pin and resiliently press it upwardly against the are of the lamp mount.

13. A spindle for lamp sealing apparatus comprising vertically disposed inner and outer sleeves slidable relative to one another, a mount pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said inner sleeve for supporting a lamp mount, said mount pin having a head portion normally resting against the upper end of said outer sleeve, a push pin slidably mounted Within said inner ysleeve beneath said mount pin, and a compression coil spring mounted within said inner sleeve beneath the push pin and compressible between the inner sleeve and said push pin, said inner sleeve being movable upwardly relative to the mount pin to thereby lift the said spring and push pin into supporting engagement with the mount pin.

14. A spindle for lamp sealing apparatus comprising vertically disposed inner and outer sleeves slidable relative to one another, a mount pin slidably mounted within the upper end of said inner sleeve for supporting a lamp mount, said mount pin having a head portion normally resting against the upper end of said outer sleeve, a push pin slidably mounted within said inner sleeve beneath said mount pin, stop means on said inner sleeve engageable with said push pin to limit upward movement of the push pin relative to the inner sleeve and to hold the push pin in a normal position out of supporting engagement with said mount pin, and a compression coil spring mounted within said inner sleeve beneath the push pin and compressed between the inner sleeve and said push pin, said inner sleeve being movable upwardly relative to the mount pin to thereby lift the said spring and push pin into supporting engagement with the mount pin.

HENRY W. JACOBSEN.

REFERENCES CITED lThe following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 846,823 Cazin Mar. l2, 1907 1,011,523 Swan Dec. 12, 1911 1,872,070 McCabe et al Aug. 16, 1932 2,203,917 Malloy June 11, 1940 2,335,617 rllhomas et al Nov. 30,` 1943 ,2,349,822 Gardner May 30, 1944 

